Scentless Chamomile

Scentless Chamomile grows on dry shorelines, roadsides, fence lines, disturbed areas and with perennial forage crops. Scentless Chamomile is present in all provinces across Canada. Scentless Chamomile seedlings can emerge anytime from spring to autumn. Up to a million seeds can be produced by a single plant and up to 1.8 million seeds can be produced by a dense stand. Scentless Chamomile can only reproduce via seed production.

Scentless Chamomiles main impact is on grain and seed fields, hayfields, pastures and cultivated crops. Animals don’t tend to eat Scentless Chamomile and because of this it will form dense stands.

Scientific Name: Matricaria maritima / Tripleurospermum inodorum

Common Name: Scentless Chamomile, Scentless Mayweed, False Chamomile

Type: Invasive Plant, Noxious Weed

Family: Asteraceae

Control Methods

With the amount of seeds produced and dispersed by Scentless Chamomile, eradication can be close to impossible. Seeds produced can live in the soil for more than 10 years. Controlling the plants and their seed production is a more manageable goal compared to trying to completely eradicate. Herbicides can be an effective way to reduce large infestations. Once the overall population of Scentless Chamomile has been reduced, the remainder can be removed by, mowing, hand pulling, shoveling etc. Increasing the density of desired crops will help to outcompete Scentless Chamomile.

Disposal

Scentless Chamomile should not be combined with other green waste. Notify the attendant when bringing to green waste facilities to see if they have an area where it can be disposed. For green waste facilities put contents into a clear plastic bag. If there is not a location for it to be disposed, contents can be put into a black plastic bag and put it in your garbage bin or take to your local garbage disposal facility.